Rapido eyeing food delivery ops pilot in Bengaluru by next week

Rapido will pilot its food delivery service, Ownly, in Bengaluru's Koramangala, HSR, and Sarjapur areas. Targeting 10 cities by next July, it aims to undercut Zomato and Swiggy on commissions. The company is collaborating with restaurants for data access and pricing strategies, prioritising sustainable growth and early learnings.

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From Reels to Retail: India’s influencers turning as next startup founders

Indian social media influencers are transitioning from content creation to entrepreneurship, launching brands in beauty, fashion, and more. Leveraging their strong audience connections, they compete with established celebrities, focusing on niche communities. This evolution unlocks new value beyond influencer marketing, driven by India's vast digital population and creator ecosystem, with firms supporting their business ventures.

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Tech industry group sues Arkansas over new social media laws

Arkansas is among several states that have been enacting restrictions on social media, prompted by concerns about the impact on children's mental health. NetChoice - whose members include Facebook parent Meta and the social platform X - challenged Arkansas' 2023 age-verification law for social media. A federal judge who initially blocked the law struck it down in March.

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AI is learning to lie, scheme, and threaten its creators

The world's most advanced AI models are exhibiting troubling new behaviors - lying, scheming, and even threatening their creators to achieve their goals. Users report that models are "lying to them and making up evidence," according to Apollo Research's co-founder.

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Karnataka’s fake news bill: Rs 10 lakh fine, 7-year jail for disrespecting sanatan symbols, promoting superstition

The draft bill includes setting up a state fake news regulatory authority tasked with a broad mandate to monitor and regulate the content disseminated on social media platforms. Defending the move, state IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge said the Congress government is not trying to change any policy but only making an effort to connect the dots that already exist and make a bill out of it.

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In pursuit of godlike technology, Mark Zuckerberg amps up the AI race

In April, Meta’s AI ambitions faltered as its new model underperformed rivals, prompting CEO Mark Zuckerberg to overhaul strategy. He demoted leaders, invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI, aggressively recruited top talent—some with $100M offers—and expanded Meta’s AI team, aiming to reassert Meta’s place in the superintelligence race.

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Shadowfax to file IPO papers under confidential route

The hyperlocal logistics startups could be valued at around Rs 5,500-6,000 crore, depending on the market conditions at the time of the listing, a person in the know said. The company has increasingly focused on the fast-growing quick commerce sector over the last year by providing rapid delivery to brands and marketplaces without their own logistics.

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Microsoft is killing Windows' Blue Screen of Death

After four decades, Microsoft is replacing the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with a Black Screen of Death. The updated design aims for clarity, removing the sad face emoji and QR code, and prioritizing essential error information. This change is part of Microsoft's broader initiative to enhance Windows' resilience, following incidents that caused widespread BSOD errors.

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Bessemer Venture Partners sees $1 trillion digital opportunity in India; eyes quick commerce, D2C boom: report

According to a report titled ‘Click, Watch, Shop: The Indian Consumer Opportunity,’ the upcoming wave of value creation in India’s consumer internet space could be five times larger than the last decade. Quick commerce, D2C brands and mobile-first platforms will be big gainers, it added.

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Namma Yatri turns city-level Ebdita positive in core markets; launches welfare fund for drivers

Bengaluru's Namma Yatri achieves city-level profitability in key markets, with plans for further expansion. It has facilitated over 10 crore rides, generating significant earnings for drivers. Namma Yatri introduces a driver welfare trust, allocating 2% of revenue for financial support. The company aims to digitise public transport in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata.

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Mini ‘AI missions’ sprout in states boosting adoption and innovation

Indian states are launching AI missions to drive innovation, enhance public services, and boost local economies. From Rajasthan to Odisha and Telangana, states are creating policies, funding infrastructure, and enabling AI adoption. While challenges like limited budgets and skill gaps persist, this decentralised push aligns with India’s broader, enablement-focused tech strategy.

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Micron’s Sanand chip plant enters crucial cleanroom validation stage

Micron's Sanand plant in Gujarat has entered cleanroom validation for its Phase 1 ATMP facility, aiming for partial operation by late 2024. With a planned $2.75 billion investment, this milestone ensures a contamination-free environment crucial for semiconductor quality, marking significant progress toward production readiness in India’s chip manufacturing ecosystem.

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OpenAI goes after Google Docs, Microsoft's Word for web with new ChatGPT features

OpenAI is reportedly developing collaboration features for ChatGPT, potentially rivaling Google Docs and Microsoft Word. These features, including document collaboration and chat, could lead to file storage and other productivity tools. This move intensifies competition with Google and further complicates OpenAI's relationship with Microsoft, its major investor, as it aims to attract more business subscriptions.

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UK launches new taskforce and fund to attract global science, tech talent

Aimed at boosting innovation and economic growth, the initiative supports relocation and research, targeting elite researchers, entrepreneurs, and creatives aligned with Britain’s new 10-year industrial strategy.

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Contract maker Zetwerk set to pump Rs 500–800 crore for component making

Zetwerk plans to invest Rs 500–800 crore in manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs), enclosures, and electromechanical components. Cofounder Rahul Sharma mentioned the company is preparing for the government's PLI scheme and has technology tie-ups with Taiwanese companies. Zetwerk is also exploring collaborations with South Korean and Chinese firms, pending government approvals, to enhance India's self-reliance in electronics manufacturing.

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UGC NET admit card 2025 for June 25 exam released: Check direct link to download hall ticket here

National Testing Agency has issued the admit cards for University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. The exam is scheduled for June 25, 2025. Candidates can download their hall tickets from ugcnet.nta.ac.in. The admit card contains exam timing, center address, and candidate details. Applicants must carry a printed copy and a valid photo ID.

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Horowitz backs AI startup with slogan 'cheat at everything'

The startup was cofounded by 21-year-old Roy Lee, who was booted from Columbia University earlier this year for creating a tool called Interview Coder that helped technical job candidates cheat on interviews using AI.

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Walmart tries to shed a stodgy vibe to battle digital-native rivals

Walmart built its empire by dominating on price. But to maintain that empire it must now compete on convenience, breadth and speed. During Associates Week -- its annual gathering of thousands of employees from around the world -- the company made a number of tech-focused announcements, like a new artificial intelligence assistant that it says will help customers shop online and an expansion of its drone home-delivery operation to more cities.

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Clampdown on ecommerce dark patterns may raise compliance burden for companies

The government is cracking down on deceptive online practices. Consumer internet companies face increased scrutiny. They must conduct self-audits to eliminate 'dark patterns'. These patterns trick users into unwanted purchases. A joint working group will monitor compliance. Companies will need dedicated teams. Experts believe sustained enforcement is crucial for consumer trust. This move impacts startups and large firms alike.

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Former Y Combinator investor Arnav Sahu joins Peak XV

Arnav Sahu, formerly a principal at Y Combinator, has joined Peak XV as an investment partner in the Bay Area. He will be part of a new San Francisco-based team focused on investments, particularly in the AI sector. This move signifies Peak XV's strategic expansion into the US market following its spin-off from Sequoia, aiming to capitalize on AI opportunities.

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Myntra’s entry to quick commerce in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai hold key considerations

Myntra has expanded its 30-minute delivery service, M-Now, to Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, targeting premium fashion shoppers amid rising quick commerce competition. With access to 600 brands, strong seasonal demand, and urban expansion, Myntra aims to strengthen its position in India’s fast-growing quick commerce segment.

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Quick commerce firms face delivery partner crunch amid rising demand

Quick commerce faces challenges in hiring delivery partners. Demand is rising, and companies like Amazon are joining the market. However, a shortage of bikers exists. Riders are demanding better pay and conditions. Some disrupt operations due to low payouts. Extreme weather worsens working conditions. Companies are trying to retain riders with benefits amid competition.

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Telegram CEO to leave fortune to 100 children he’s fathered

Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, will bequeath his wealth to his numerous children. He has six children from three partners and over 100 from sperm donations. Durov wants his children to access the fortune after 30 years. He also faced charges in France related to Telegram. A ruling now allows him to travel to Dubai for longer periods.

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EU probes Musk's xAI buyout of X: Bloomberg News report

The European Union is intensifying its scrutiny of Elon Musk's xAI acquisition of X, potentially leading to significant fines under the Digital Services Act. Regulators are examining X's corporate structure post-acquisition and probing alleged DSA infractions, including deceptive design related to the blue checkmark verification system.

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Byju’s RP’s suit claims directors owe compensation to company under IBC laws

An EY-backed resolution professional, Shailendra Ajmera, has sued former Byju's directors. The lawsuits claim fraudulent asset transfers. These transfers allegedly deprived Think and Learn of funds. The transactions involve $533 million and Rs 130 crore. Riju Ravindran previously filed a petition. He sought Ajmera's removal citing conflict of interest. A Delaware court also ruled against Byju's Alpha's asset transfer.

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Microsoft planning thousands more job cuts aimed at salespeople

Microsoft is reportedly planning to eliminate thousands of jobs, primarily impacting its sales division, as part of ongoing cost-cutting measures amidst substantial investments in artificial intelligence. The announcement is expected in early July, following the close of the company's fiscal year. These terminations follow previous layoffs in May and a shift towards using third-party firms for some sales operations.

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IPO-bound BlueStone geared for unicorn tag

Bluestone is preparing for its public market debut. 360 One and Centrum Wealth are facilitating secondary deals. These deals amount to Rs 300–350 crore. The transaction values Bluestone at Rs 10,500 crore. RB Investments will fully exit Bluestone through these deals. Bluestone's IPO includes a fresh capital raise. The company reported revenue of Rs 1,266 crore in fiscal 2024.

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Amazon's corporate workforce may shrink as AI takes over routine tasks

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that the rollout of generative AI and agents will lead to a reduction in the company's corporate workforce in the coming years. While AI is expected to automate tasks and reshape roles, experts anticipate a workforce reshuffling rather than mass unemployment. Amazon is implementing AI to enhance efficiency and customer experience across various internal operations.

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Google introduces stable Gemini 2.5 Flash and Pro, previews Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite

Google DeepMind released stable versions of Gemini 2.5 Flash and Pro, highlighting top benchmark performance. Now broadly available to developers, the models support advanced reasoning, multimodal tasks, and one million-token context. A new Flash-Lite preview offers the fastest, most cost-efficient model in the Gemini 2.5 series.

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We would like to be DeepSeek in the West, says Essential AI cofounder

Ashish Vaswani, cofounder of Essential AI, emphasises the need for open, collaborative AI development to counter rising inequality and short-termism in AI research. He advocates transparency, open-source frontier models, and sustainable innovation, warning that current monetisation pressures may hinder long-term breakthroughs and narrow the path to artificial general intelligence.

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ETtech Explainer: Behind crackdown on unauthorised use of govt databases for user onboarding

The Indian government is cracking down on startups offering Aadhaar-based identity verification through unauthorised channels. MeitY has warned firms to use only regulated platforms. Startups like Zoop and Signzy are affected. While crucial for digital onboarding and fraud prevention, misuse of official databases has raised data privacy and legal concerns.

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InCred Money set to acquire discount broker Stocko, marking entry into retail broking

InCred Money is poised to acquire Stocko for approximately Rs 300 crore, marking its entry into the retail broking sector. This acquisition will integrate Stocko into InCred Money, expanding its offerings to include equities and derivatives trading. The Stocko team will continue to operate the platform, leveraging InCred's resources for faster scaling and innovation.

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Startups fire up hiring engine in hunt for senior executives

Senior-level hiring is rebounding across Indian startups, driven by recent funding, IPO preparations, and AI-first hiring. Early-stage firms like Snabbit and Battery Smart are leading the charge, alongside mature players such as Flipkart. Startups are tapping diverse sectors for leadership talent to scale operations and navigate their next growth phase.

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Big Tech’s acqui-hire strategy heats up as demand for AI talent soars

In the last two years, large technology players have been acquiring AI startups for their technology teams. Microsoft paid $650 million in a licensing deal to Inflection AI, whose cofounder Mustafa Suleyman is now heading Microsoft AI. In a similar licensing deal, Amazon hired AI startup Adept cofounder David Luan and others who joined Amazon's AGI team.

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Unaccounted income invested in virtual digital assets on CBDT radar

Such entities and individuals which are engaged in Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) transactions and have failed to comply with the Income-tax Act, 1961 have been identified for verification, sources said.

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Quick commerce fuels niche D2C boom in smaller cities

According to Satish Meena, adviser at ecommerce consultancy Datum Intelligence, a set of customers who previously shopped on ecommerce platforms are shifting to quick commerce for certain categories of products for instant gratification. Many consumers who haven’t used ecommerce before are also trying quick commerce because of its ease and accessibility, he added.

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Innovation takes a backseat at small companies as tariffs become a full-time preoccupation

Trump’s unpredictable tariffs have stalled innovation for small US businesses, forcing founders to delay product launches, cut staff, and shift focus from R&D to navigating trade costs. From educational toys to eco-friendly home goods and U.S.-made sneakers, companies are struggling with uncertainty, limited resources, and disrupted global supply chains.

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AI security startup Repello AI raises $1.2 million from Venture Highway, Pi Ventures, others

Meta board member Charles Songhurst, Sarvam AI CEO Vivek Raghavan, and Satya Vas backed the company in this round. The fresh funds will be used to fast-track product development, expand the platform's red teaming and threat intelligence capabilities, and scale its go-to-market efforts.

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Polygon cofounder Sandeep Nailwal takes over as CEO amid restructuring

The blockchain firm has been facing rising competition from other players such as Coinbase’s Base and Optimism, even as most of its cofounders left the firm.

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Garuda Aerospace raises $1 million from Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, others

The drone startup, which is backed by former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will use the funds for scaling up production capacity from 8,000 drones per annum now to between 12,000 and 15,000 units. The funds will also help boost R&D efforts and expand its export presence to 50 countries by the year-end.

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China is only 3-6 months behind US in AI, Trump official says

"China is not years and years behind us in AI. Maybe they're 3-6 months," said Sacks, speaking at the AWS summit in Washington. "It's a very close race."

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Everything Apple announced at its annual developer conference

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the company also said it would open up the underlying technology it uses for Apple Intelligence to developers.

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Kaynes Semicon, L&T arm to acquire Fujitsu General’s power modules business

Fujitsu will transfer the business to Larsen & Toubro’s fabless chip company and related production facilities to Kaynes, which will in turn manufacture these products for LTSCT, the companies said.

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Apple unveils iOS 26: Which iPhones are eligible for new features?

​Apple launched iOS 26 at the WWDC 2025 and integrated Apple Intelligence across its apps and devices. It also introduced new display technology, Liquid Glass, and announced ChatGPT support to some apps. The company's shares, however, fell about 2% as the announcements failed to impress investors.

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Karnataka's new IT policy to be finalised around July: Priyank Kharge

The last consultation on the matter was held among IT secretary Ekroop Caur, industry body Nasscom and others on May 23. They discussed strategies to reskill Karnataka’s digital workforce, emphasised extending IT infrastructure beyond Bengaluru into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and reviewed regulatory reforms to enhance ease of doing business in the state.

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Apple under pressure to shine after AI stumble

Industry insiders will be watching to see whether Apple addresses the AI stumble or focuses on less splashy announcements, including a rumored overhaul of its operating systems for its line of devices. "The bottom line is Apple seemed to underestimate the AI shift, then over-promised features, and is now racing to catch up," Gene Munster and Brian Baker of Deepwater Asset Management wrote in a WWDC preview note.

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Welcome to campus, here's your ChatGPT

Some universities, including the University of Maryland and California State University, are already working to make AI tools part of students' everyday experiences. In early June, Duke University began offering unlimited ChatGPT access to students, faculty and staff. The school also introduced a university platform, called DukeGPT, with AI tools developed by Duke.

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Buyer with ties to Chinese Communist Party got VIP treatment at Trump crypto dinner

Trump launched a so-called meme coin, a type of cryptocurrency, just days before his inauguration. To bolster sales, the president's business partners created a contest in April, offering the coin's top buyers a tour of the White House and a private dinner with Trump at his Virginia golf club. The meme coin dinner engendered strong criticism from Democrats, government watchdogs and even some Republicans about the appearance of monetising the presidency for personal gain.

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Ashok Elluswamy to lead Tesla Optimus robot project

Milan Kovac, the head of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot program, announced his resignation on X, citing the need to spend more time with family abroad. Kovac, who led the program since 2022, will be immediately replaced by Ashok Elluswamy, who currently leads Tesla's autopilot teams. Musk has emphasized the importance of Optimus and autonomy for Tesla's long-term valuation.

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Infosys gets relief as DGGI closes Rs 32,403 crore GST notice

Infosys has received closure from the DGGI on a GST demand notice of over Rs 30,000 crore, related to reverse-charge payments for services from overseas branches between 2017 and 2022. The company confirmed compliance with regulations and stated the matter is now resolved, following earlier responses to pre-show cause notices.

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Top tech and startup stories this week

Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories this week. Let’s take a look.

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Indians eye other visa routes amid H-1B uncertainty, layoffs

The new Donald Trump administration has tightened scrutiny of H-1B visas since taking office early this year. According to the data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the number of H-1B visa applications shortlisted this year has declined 27% on year—the lowest since the pandemic-impacted FY21.

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Crypto firm Gemini confidentially files for US IPO

Several high-profile companies, including those in high-risk sectors such as crypto and financial technology, have launched successful listings in recent weeks, reflecting pent-up demand.

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Infosys to give cash sops to employees taking part in interviews to help hiring

Infosys has launched a cash reward scheme for senior staff conducting lateral hire interviews, offering Rs 700 per interview, retrospectively from January. Aimed at boosting morale, the policy excludes HR and leadership roles. The policy has also limited the cash incentive for hirings within India.

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Apple loses bid to halt court ruling that blocks some fees from its iPhone app store

Apple sought to put the order on hold after it was issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers in a stinging rebuke that also held the Cupertino, California, company in civil contempt of court and recommended opening a criminal investigation into whether one of its executives had committed perjury while testifying in her Oakland, California, courtroom.

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Google takes a gamble in class action jury trial over cell phone data use

The plaintiffs in court papers say that even when their phones are turned off, Google causes Android devices to surreptitiously send information over cellular networks "for Google's own purposes," including targeted digital advertising. These transfers improperly eat up data that users purchase from their mobile carriers, the plaintiffs allege.

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Amazon planning $10 billion investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history.

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Four of IndiaAI’s responsible AI solutions to go live on AIKosha from September

Safe & Trusted AI and IndiaAI Application Development Initiative are among the seven pillars of the Rs 10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission. The others are the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre, IndiaAI Datasets Platform, IndiaAI FutureSkills and IndiaAI Startup Financing. The government had last year invited expressions of interest for RAI tools and received about 2,000 applications.

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Reddit down for thousands of users globally

The platform was down for 26,291 users as of 2.34 p.m. ET, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from various sources. The actual number of affected users may vary.

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Wealthtech startup Stable Money raises $20 million in round led by Nilekani’s Fundamentum Partnership

Existing backers Z47, RTP Global and Lightspeed, besides Aditya Birla Ventures, participated in the funding round. Per cofounder Saurabh Jain, the funds will be used to expand its suite of wealth products and speed up customer acquisition. Since its launch in 2022, Stable Money has onboarded more than 150,000 users, who have invested in FDs and bonds, taking its total assets under management (AUM) to over Rs 3,000 crore.

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Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $650 million in latest funding round

Neuralink is in the process of testing its implant, which is intended to help people with spinal cord injuries. The device has allowed the first patient to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media and move a cursor on his laptop directly with his brain.

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Hey chatbot, is this true? AI 'factchecks' sow misinformation

During India and Pakistan's recent conflict, social media users turned to AI chatbots like Grok, ChatGPT, and Gemini for fact-checking, only to receive misinformation. Experts warn these tools often produce false or biased content, raising concerns as tech firms cut human fact-checkers and users increasingly rely on AI for news.

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New-age cos’ road to profitability; QED’s Nigel Morris interview

After a torrid time on Dalal Street, new-age firms have taken a turn towards profitability in the March quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

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Regulators realising fintechs are here to stay: QED’s Nigel Morris

Fintechs are no longer scrappy outsiders. They’re scaling faster than traditional players and increasingly, regulators are recognising them as a permanent fixture in the financial services industry, QED Investors' cofounder Nigel Morris told us. In an exclusive interview during his annual visit to India, Morris said fintechs are beginning to dominate categories such as earned wage access, money transfers, and neobanking.

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